Dec. 17: Dan Zanes: Holiday Sing-Along rings in the season at CLC's James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts
In two sensory-friendly and festive holiday shows at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County on Sunday, Dec. 17, Grammy Award-winning artist Dan Zanes, along with Claudia Eliaza and Pauline Jean, will create a relaxed, inclusive and sensory-friendly song-and-dance party designed to entertain families and/or children with autism or other special needs. In a concert combining rock and roll, folk and soul music, Zanes creates a magical, musical experience where the doors are open wide and everyone is invited.
Dan Zanes: Holiday Sing-Along will be performed at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center. A free continental breakfast will be served at 10:30 a.m., before the first performance.
Called "The crown prince of contemporary kid's music" by People magazine, Zanes occupies a unique place in American music where sea shanties, English music hall, North American and West Indian folk music, play party songs, early rock 'n roll and soulful originals collide.
"Dan Zanes is enriching the field with his dance-party, hootenanny for the 21st century style… combining uncompromising vocal and instrumental artistry and a muscular pop beat with an all-embracing, down-style that harks back to the days when sing-alongs in the parlor brought families and friends together," wrote the Los Angeles Times.
Referred to as "the family-music genre's most outspoken and eloquent advocate" by Time magazine, his music has been featured on "Sesame Street," "Playhouse Disney," Nickelodeon, HBO Family and Sprout. In spring 2017, Zanes released "Ha-Ha This Away" on the Smithsonian/Folkways label that celebrates the children's music of his main inspiration, Lead Belly, called the king of the 12-string guitar.
Zanes is a strong advocate for sensory-friendly performances and works with Haitian-American jazz vocalist/music therapist Claudia Eliaza to include communities with children who have special needs. This year he joined the ranks of some of America's premier roots musicians as a guitar and ukulele teacher with Sonic Junction, the leader in online interactive instructional Americana video lessons. For information, visit http://danzanes.com.
The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts understands that patrons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other special needs have unique and varying sensory issues. This performance is designed to accommodate audiences in a judgement-free, gentle manner while preserving the genuine concert experience desired by all patrons and their families. In addition, the JLC staff is committed to providing a relaxed, supportive and welcoming environment for all audience members.
Audience members will be encouraged to vocalize and move around throughout the concert, and may also bring their own manipulatives, seat cushions and comfort/support objects to the show. Other sensory accommodations will also be available at the JLC box office, including earplugs and stress-reducing toys. Visit http://jlcenter.clcillinois.edu/events.asp?catid=1 for a list of provided sensory accommodations and details about the performance.
Tickets: $28 for adults, $27 for seniors/CLC staff and alumni; $15 for CLC students and teens age 12-17; $8 for children. Teen and child tickets must be purchased with adult-priced tickets. Prices do not include a $2 per ticket JLC facility fee and other applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office in the James Lumber Center, Room P112 on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., by phone or online at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. For more information, call (847) 543-2300 (option 5). The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 12-6 p.m. and 60 minutes before performances.
To request the 2017-18 James Lumber Center Professional Touring Series brochure or the College of Lake County art, dance, film, literary, music and theatre events guide, call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. To join the JLC mailing list, text JLCEMAIL to 22828. Groups of six or more are eligible for discounted ticket prices. Call group sales at (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu for group information.
The rest of the 2017-18 Professional Touring Series includes the following events:
• Cirque Zuma Zuma: Saturday, Feb. 17
• Animaniacs Live! Sunday, March 4
• Rockin' Road to Dublin: Friday, March 16
• Taikoza: Sunday, March 25
• "Cool Heat of Peggy Lee" starring Spider Saloff: Friday, May 11